How to Write 聖 (holy, saint, sage, master, priest) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 13-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 聖 (“holy, saint, sage, master, priest”), indexed under the 耳 (みみ (ear)) radical. Practice 聖 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 聖 (ひじり (hijiri) — holy).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (聖)
Primary Radical (部首): 耳 — みみ (ear)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 耳
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セイ, ショウ) when 聖 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ひじり) when 聖 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (13画): At 13 strokes, 聖 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 耳 (みみ (ear)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 耳 (みみ (ear))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 13 strokes under radical 耳.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 聖
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 聖 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 聖 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 聖 ("holy, saint, sage, master, priest") is written with 13 strokes (13画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 耳 (みみ (ear)) radical. At 13 strokes, 聖 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 耳 (みみ (ear)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 聖?
For 聖 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is セイ, ショウ and the Kunyomi is ひじり. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セイ, ショウ) when 聖 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ひじり) when 聖 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 聖 includes 聖 (ひじり (hijiri) — holy).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 聖 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 13 strokes of 聖 (holy, saint, sage, master, priest), start with the 耳 (みみ (ear)) in the Standalone / Integrated (部首) position and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice 聖 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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